How can i make this background less boring?

[Arkulus]

Im making a new webcomic soon and im having trouble making the world "pop".

I was wondering if anyone had tips or suggestions on how i could make better backgrounds and really bring out the world.

[Kyuu]

Well. There's a lot to discuss for the background.

First of all, you need to decide how important is your background to your story. In most stories, background is tremendously important. But for some it isn't. If your story is more about the conversation and humour (like gag, slice of life, etc), then you could have a very simple color background or whatever.

Next, you need to decide what kind of style is needed. Do you want your story to be real and relatable? THen perhaps realism is required for your background. Is yours more cute imaginary? Then perhaps simple colored drawings.

And I could go on about this.... Maybe I will write an article on this later, but Im just gonna be realistic and help you with that particular image.

The main thing you need to know is, farther things are, blurry they become. Clsoer they are, more detailed, crisp they are. Also farther things are, they tend to become grey (what kind of grey depends on the time/setting of the pic). Also remember to make your drawing style of the background to match that of your character.

[Arkulus]

Hmmm ok. Thank you! I learned a thing or two from you. if you ever do make an article, send me a link to it. Id be more than happy to read it. ^^

[Kawaiiyusra]

Look up references and draw from that. Don't draw from your head. I see you are going to a spooky woods feel. Search up photos for what you are looking for on tumblr, instagram or pinterest. Or find some background artists that inspire you (not saying copy them) however you can get some ideas from them.
(Literally every professional artist draws backgrounds from real life references)

(If you google up anime backgrounds versus real life, you get a bunch of comparisons like these)

To make the world 'pop' you are on the right track with your values, just maybe put more trees and take your time drawing the branches.
Honest depending on the style of your comic you could just stick with something simple. Details doesn't necessarily mean "popping out" it just depends on contrast.

[carloswebcomic]

Well, to throw in my two dollars, one thing that may be worth keeping in mind, is that your characters inhabit a world, but the world is not there for your characters. I feel that it's worth showing that stuff does happen without your characters not being involved.
It doesn't need to be obvious and in-your-face, but just little background doodles of other stuff happening not related to the story.

[Aloredd]

I think distinction among the trees will help with it....looking at it now I can't tell if the trees are supposed to be the lines or if the lines are making the trees (if that made any sense....)

ive seen too that some people will add 'layers' to their background that either get gradually lighter or darker depending on the tone/theme of the shot....so you'll have a layer of trees (maybe 3 trees or so for a frame that size) that's a lighter gray, one layer behind that (trees that are slightly further away) that are a darker gray, and another layer of trees (that are even further away) that are even darker gray, almost black, with all of the layers staggered (so you can see all/most of the trees) and with each tree in each layer different shapes (and each layer of tree different from the color of the ground to make the ground separate from the trees).

usually the foreground objects will be a darker color as well...kind of putting the focus on the character/object that's between the background and foreground (as if the light in the picture was emanating from the character/object)

[jessicasurline]

I think your composition is pretty good. I think what it is lacking is ground elements. Roots, grass, shrubs or fog would jazz it up nicely.

[NickRowler]

Looking at refs help to understand what you are going for

I Googled "Spooky Forest" and got images like this.
I guess you should play around with making a fog-like effect. So making the sky lighter, making trees in the distance more lighter and having a fade from the ground to the sky instead of a line. Also some ground texture and having the base of the trees be more define.

Also, just a suggestion, you might want to add a drop shadow on the character, I know you might say ghosts don't have them but it helps sort of "ground" the character.

I hope that helps.

[Arkulus]

This definitely helps. Thx for the advice, ill try adding shadows. : D